Experience with a C210 and less that a 1/3 fuel on board required a very flat decent.
With the CH701 I see the same problem, the fuel outlets are inboad and aft on the tanks so in a steep decent (maybe even with half tanks) the fuel would be forward of the outlets and therefore no fuel flow available.
Has anyone experienced this and/or solved it.
I really don't want fuel near any person onboard, but a small tank behind the main gear might be OK.
Any comments of suggestions

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Paul,

The "Just Aircraft" Highlander & Escapade uses a small header tank in the cabin just behind the right seat and just below the rear of the fuel tank. ( a hose from the left tank comes over and joins). It's is not very noticeable depending how you do you interior design. It is about 20" long and about as big around as a coffee cup. I too do not like fuel tanks in the cabin but this thing works great! Probably only holds 2-3 quarts I guess but I can find out if you like. I only live about 20 miles from the factory. It also has a sump and drain and the very bottom that can stick out of the bottom of the fuselage.

http://www.justaircraft.com/news.php

Jeff Webb
601XL/???
Hi Paul, I've read alot on this subject and talk to a couple of fellow 701 pilot/builders who have expermented with this issue. I have attach a picture, but here how it works. Fuel lines come from the wing tanks in behind the cabin in the fuslage. The two fuel lines are conected by T's together (reason behind T ing lines together is to have wing tanks drain even) and then the two fuel line enter the header tank. Near the top of the header tank some put in a sensor that is attach to a alarm and light in the panel to give you notice that you have low fuel. The header tank should be big enought to give you about 30-40 minutes flight time once the low level alarm goes off. At the bottom of the header tank you will need a drain witch will drain out the bottom of the fuslage. Near the bottom of the tank you will need two fuel lines coming out. One to fuel pump and one has a check valve in it. These two fuel lines are T together after fuel pump and check valve and the one fuel line goes to your on/off fuel control. From here fuel line goes to engine with a fuel filter somewhere in between. Hope this helps you, this is what I have planed for my 701. Pat.
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Paul, like yourself, I am not partial to having a gas container ( read that as being a gas tank of any size ) inside the cabin of my aircraft. However to ad to your discussion regarding the possibility of fuel not flowing because of a steep angle, there might be a much easier solution. A few weeks ago I saw on this site, or the Matronics list, I can't remember which, a picture of an installation that might be worth a second look.

The owner was in the process of installing his tanks, and he used two identical outlets per tank. One in the normal aft position, and the second at the complete oposite end ( forward ) right next to the main spar. The two hoses were then joined together using a " T " before entering the cabin. I 'm figuring that installed in this way, there would be no flight attitude or angle that would cause the fuel to stop flowing. Haven't done anything on my own aircraft since I have not reached that stage yet, but seriously considering it for my own installation.

I tried to find the article, or photo, but have not had any luck so far. Age does that to us you know :o)

Good luck with your choices
Robert Pelland
The 701 & 750 Scratch
Paul, here is a photo of the duel outlet fuel tank. My guess is that there will be no flight attitude, that would cause the fuel to stop flowing regardless of the angle.

I can't take credit for the photo, nor can I identify the original photographer, so if this pic happens to be yours, give yourself credit. :o).

regards
Robert Pelland
The 701 & 750 Scratch
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won't the two outlets cause it to suck air?
Not as long the location of the Tee stays below the two outlets..
I will repeat Paul's question. Has anyone experienced a problem with low fuel in a 701and a steep descent? There have been solutions posted here to a problem that may not exist. To date with 50+ hours on my plane, I have not experienced this problem but I don't let my tanks get below 1/4 full and my angle of descent is probably not that steep; at least not for an extended period of time.

Dan Wilde
Hi Dan, check the archives in the Matronics list, there is alot of info on this subject.

Pat.
Hi Paul

In my stol i have a smal tank behind a passanger for 40 min reserve , it works good from 250 hour . Fuel lines from wing tanks going to this tank , from this tank electric pump suck fuel to BMW 1150 injection system .

BR
Andrzej
Andrzej,

I wanted to ask in March but I didn't want to change the topic mid stream. Could you share some performance specs on your plane with the R1150 engine? Also a question about the fuel injection, is it true high pressure injection or a variation on the slide carb like the Areocarb, that works on low pressure?

Thanks
Kevin
Hi Kevin !

Performance

BMW 1150 twin spark 90 HP , Gear box changed from 1;3 to 1:2,7.
Cruse speed 130 km/h fuel consumption 14 - 15 l/h ( 5500 rpm ) ( take off 6100 rpm )
Climb 4 m/s single person ful fuel . Injection system is high presure 3 bar with colector tank ( for cooling a fuel comming back from HP pump ) Injection system is directly from bike with MA 2.4 Motronic Bosh computer .


BR Andrzej
Here is a collector Tank from a Kitfox, same idea as the Just Aircraft, but with out the low fuel alarm. These would be behind the seats in the rear fuse on a 701 so not quite in the cabin. I have struggled with this my self, as my gut tells me rubber fuel lines with gascolator and valve fittings bolted to the floor are just as bad as a small tank in the case of an emergency landing. Not to mention the wing tanks are right there as well. The duel out let seems to be a solid idea as long as you are careful of the fuel level.

BTW as to the original question I have no direct experience yet, but I have not heard of this being a problem. And with the 701 it would seem that it would be well known if it were a problem.

Kevin
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